On Vimeo there is a documentary about the effects of pornography on the BRAIN, aired also on CHANNEL 4, called "Porn on the Brain".The TRAILER is available on Vimeo (I am not allowed to post external links): if you would like to watch it, search "Porn on the Brain" and watch the Scorpion TV video.

The synopsis: "This documentary features groundbreaking science revealing the effects of pornography on the brain for the first time. A journalist and father concerned by alarming headlines, and aware that his son will soon reach the age most children first see porn, wants to find some answers. Is it really bad for kids? We meet neuroscientists, therapists and educators who are all concerned about the effects of easy access to hardcore porn on vulnerable teenage brains."

What do you think about it? Is it so dangerous for kids? Does it have an effect only on kids' brains?

Is it so dangerous for kids? Does it have an effect only on kids' brains?

I don't think kids may watch porn as teenagers and adults do. I think however it is normal for teenagers during puberty to become aware of their sexual impulses through erotism and porn. As for the effects on the brain, I believe the anti-pornography movement is not based on science, rather than on theoretical arguments. Thus, comparing pornography effects to cocaine is a myth: porn is not a drug...

Is it so dangerous for kids? Does it have an effect only on kids' brains?

I don't think kids may watch porn as teenagers and adults do. I think however it is normal for teenagers during puberty to become aware of their sexual impulses through erotism and porn. As for the effects on the brain, I believe the anti-pornography movement is not based on science, rather than on theoretical arguments. Thus, comparing pornography effects to cocaine is a myth: porn is not a drug...

[...]

Porn stimulates some part of the brain dedicated to the pleasure. Maybe, it could cause addiction to some kids (not all), like adrenaline produced by extreme sports is an addiction for some people. Is not the same? This documentary seems to say that there is a correlation between these two phenomena...

Porn stimulates some part of the brain dedicated to the pleasure. Maybe, it could cause addiction to some kids (not all), like adrenaline produced by extreme sports is an addiction for some people. Is not the same? This documentary seems to say that there is a correlation between these two phenomena...

It's part of being human to have sex, one way or another. Thus I believe sex addiction is based on pseudo-science:

"Ley contends that careful scientists know there are absolutely no differences between the brains of alleged sex addicts and non-sex addicts. The advocates of sex addiction and porn addiction who use brain science are merely building credibility with what he calls “valley-girl science.” Advocates will say, “sex addiction is like an eating disorder, it’s like a heroin addiction.” Ley says this form of argumentation is very weak: “When they tell you that sex addiction is like an eating disorder, they don’t tell you all the things that are different about it. They live by anecdotes, because they don’t have good science.”"

Addiction is very poorly understood, and the terminology has also entered the mainstream such that it doesn't have a rigorous scientific definition (rather like the mainstream usage of the terms: power, noise, viscous, hardness, random, and synthetic, etc...)

I wouldn't be surprised if scientists found viewing pornography to be habit-forming and self-reenforcing. But I don't think there is really any way to quantify "tolerance" or "dependance" as they relate to pornography.

People are strange creatures and can find themselves in all manners self-harming habits, whether it involves ingesting substances (like cocaine, alcohol or sugar), depriving themselves of necessities (anorexia, auto-asphyxiation, sensory deprivation), risk-taking (gambling, sky-diving, extreme sports). Many of these things are harmless in moderation, but for whatever reason some people find themselves unable to stop, even when they know its a problem.

There are physiological and psychological factors that underly many of these issues, but I think it is unscientific to lump them all together--there are probably many different factors involved, and may be quite different for each individual. Personally, I think viewing these issues more on an obsession/compulsion basis is likely to be more enlightening than thinking about it as "addiction," but I'm no social scientist.

Addiction is very poorly understood, and the terminology has also entered the mainstream such that it doesn't have a rigorous scientific definition (rather like the mainstream usage of the terms: power, noise, viscous, hardness, random, and synthetic, etc...)

I wouldn't be surprised if scientists found viewing pornography to be habit-forming and self-reenforcing. But I don't think there is really any way to quantify "tolerance" or "dependance" as they relate to pornography.

People are strange creatures and can find themselves in all manners self-harming habits, whether it involves ingesting substances (like cocaine, alcohol or sugar), depriving themselves of necessities (anorexia, auto-asphyxiation, sensory deprivation), risk-taking (gambling, sky-diving, extreme sports). Many of these things are harmless in moderation, but for whatever reason some people find themselves unable to stop, even when they know its a problem.

There are physiological and psychological factors that underly many of these issues, but I think it is unscientific to lump them all together--there are probably many different factors involved, and may be quite different for each individual. Personally, I think viewing these issues more on an obsession/compulsion basis is likely to be more enlightening than thinking about it as "addiction," but I'm no social scientist.

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